Automatic air-brake coupling for railway-cars.



PATENTED FEB. 12

P. H. RUTHERFORD. BRAKE COUPLING FOR RAILWAY CARS.

AUTOMATIC AIR APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 13. 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED FEB. 12, 1907.

F. H.- RUTHERFORD. AUTOMATIC AIR BRAKE COUPLING FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13,1906.

3 SHBETSSHEET 2,

PATENTED FEB. 12, 1907.

F. H. RUTHERFORD. AUTOMATIC AIR BRAKE GOUPLING FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 13,1906.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED rarest? crrrcn.

AUTOMATlO AIR-BRAKE ooupuns FOR RAlLWAY-CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

?atented Feb. 12, 1907.

Appllcatiou filed June 13, 1906. $erial N0. 321.5 27- To [ZZZ whom itmay concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK H. Reruns FORD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AutomaticAir-Brake Couplers for Railway-Cars, of which the following is a clear,full, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatic coupling for theair-bral-to, the airsignal, and the steamieating systems ofrailway-trains in which the forwarc portion of the body of the coupl ngis removably jointed to the rear portion of the structure and is kept bythe forward pressure of the latter in a horizontal position and isotherwise so constructed as to provide a simple yet practicable couplingthat operatively engages its companion coupling on the next car eventhough the same is in an offset position, will accommodate itself to theline of draft of the cars when rounding a curve, and. will move with thecar-coupler during the operation of the same under normal conditions,butcan be released therefrom to permit of the repair of the car-coupleror of its own elements or can be wrenched free of the same should thecar-coupler be torn from its rigging. This I accomplish by the meanshereinafter fully described and as particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention," showingit attached to the broken-away end portion of a car. Fig. 2- is a planview of the same, taken on dotted line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is asideelevation of two of my improved couplers in engagement. Fig. 4 is an endview of one of said couplers attached to the broken end portion of acar.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the jointed connection between the forwardand rear portions of the coupler. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the meansfor connecting the carriage of the coupling and the car-coupler. Fig. 7is a horizontal section of a portion of the couplerhead, taken on dottedline 7 7, Fig. 4, and drawn to a larger scale. Fig. 8 is a sideelevat-ion similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified form of my invention.Fig. 9 is a plan view of said modified form. Fig. '10 is a perspectiveview of a portion of said modification. Referring to the drawings, Arepresents the end-portion of a car to which my improvenients areapplied. This car is provided with the usual center-sills a a, betweenwhich the drawbar of the car-coupler and cooperating draft-rigging(preferably of the Janney type) are operatively secured.

Secured to and depending down from the center sills (I a arelongitudinally-dispcsed i parallel guide-frames b for the reciprocalcarrier-franie B of my invention, which latter These guide-frames havevertical webs, the upper ed of which are provided withoutwardly-projecting flanges through which the bolts pass that securethe guide-frames to the center sills. The lower portion of the guide-fran xs 2: re prrssed or otherwise formed into such shape to providetheir ,inner surfaces with longitudinal grooves or guideways 0, in whichthe-longitudinal edges of said carrier-frame B can move lo1igitudinally.This carrier-frame preferably corisisls of an open rectangularstructure, which mediate iis ends is'provided with a suitable cross-barB. rear end of the carrier-frame and the crossbar B thereof are eachprovided with han 01s I) and (1 at about their centers of lengt andthree hangers are each provided with guidebeaiings in their lower end,in which the longitudinally-dispcsed buffer-bar E has longitudinalmovement. This buifer-bar is normally kept at the limit of its forwardmovement by means of a coil-spring C, which surrounds bar E and has itsrearend engaging the hanger d and its forward end engaging a collar 6,securely fastened to bar E.

The transverse bar 00, constituting the forward end of thecarrier-frame, is provided which is formed into an annulus f, theopening in which is preferably circular and s of such diameter as, topernit of the passage therethrough in a forwardly direction of the bodyG of the coupler until the circumferential flange g of the rear endthereof bears against the rear margins of the said opening. 1 Theforward portion of the coupler G is i rcferably rectangular incross-section and lies the engaging face it thereof perfectly. free andin a vertically transverse plane, which The cross-bar fornzing the,

will be hereinafter more fully described.

with a drop-frame F, the lower portion of IOL tion will be at rightangles to the'line of draft latter when the coupler is in its normalposil l tion of the coupling is provided nonefj'side which nearest-saidface is beveled outwardly and the under side of which is beveledupwardly, so that its forward extreniii y will be reduced at a point,and said head is provided on the oppcsite. side 'below the center ofheight of the face'ot the coupler with a forwardly-projecting lug H, theside of which nearest said face is beveled outwardly and the upper sideof which is lDOVQldflOWlP wardly, so that the forward extreuiity of saidlug will be pointed. two of my iniprovcd couplers oppose and en gageeach other, will direct the engaging: faces of the coupleis together, sothat the openings in Sllfl facts will communicate, as will hereinafterbe fully explained. The rear portion of the coupler is reduced in crcsssection in front 01 flange g, substantially 275 shown in the drawings,so as to peririt of the movement of said body in any direction to alimited extent without binding.

The body of the coupler is kept in a ho1izontal position, as shown inFig". l of the drawings, by the engagement with the rear end thereof ofthe buffer bar E. To facilitate this engagement, the rear end of thecoupler is dished or provided with a concavity t', which at if s centeris provided with a socket 9', into which the forward end ofseidbuffer-bar is nornierly seated. This forward end of the butler; bar isprovided with a head J, preferably corresponding in shape to that of anarrow-head and provided with a vertical opening ihere'through, the sidesof which are preferably parallel \Vlill the outer edges of said head.

Above and below the buil'ecbar lugs /t' /s project rearwardly from thecoupler 120.: r liH edges of the concavity i, and 'iiYlSt lugs areprovided with veri ical openings iiHl m h rough down through which :1pi. K is p; sscd, which latter extends through the opening p in. the

7 head of the butler-bar and prevents tilt accidental (lisengagcn'entoi' the lmll'erbar i'lOlIl the coupler. TillS t1l, "2ll(llilt ol thebutler-bar with the rear end of the coupler .pern its 01' the couplerITiOVlPg! at an ere'le lo the line of draft in any dirrc'iion and duringthe engagenent of two opposingcouplers keeps saidv couplers iii 11 lypnssirg: 'N no. rcr.

It is desired to have in improved a1ztomatic coupler connected with thecar-coupler, although this is not absolutely necessary. In order toaccomplish this connection, 1 pro vide an arm M, the rear end of whichis pivotally connected to lugs N, projecting: from the transverse barforning the front end of the carrier-frame, and has its forward endprovided with a U-shapcd clipv O, which is passed around the lower endof the pivotal pin S, connecting the jaw of the car-c.ouplcr to the headthereof. This pin S extends down below the draw-bar and is clipped toThese lugs, when the forward end of the arlnM' bythe cli 0 whose endsextend through suitable per'orations insaid arm and are secured by nutssthereon, substantially as shown. The head of the coupler is preferablyrectangular in cross-section and is provided with three longitudinallydisposed passages therein, m, n, and 0. The upper passage or extendsback from the engaging face of the coupler a suitable distance and isdeflected obliquely to and communicates with the bore of a short stub m,extending obliquely from the lefthand side of the head. This stub hasrnadeiiiteg al therewith, at a point where it leaves the side'of saidhead, a cylindrical casing for a two-way valve m the transverse orificethrough which connects the bore of the stub m and the passage m when inone position and when turned at right angles thereto cuts out said.passage m and connects the stub m with the bore of a stub m pro ectlngtransversely therefrom, to which the end of a flexible emergency hose mis suitably secured. A suitable coupling m is secured to the end of theemergency hose m. The s pindlc m of the valve 'm extends transverselythrough the head and has its extended ends provided with suitable knobsor hand-wheels for turn- The .rniddle passage n extends from theengaging face of the coupling back to and corn! Projecting transverselyfrom said casing is a short stub 12?, the bore of which, when the two- Iwa valve is turned to close passage a, coinlnunicates with the bore ofstub n and connects the emergency hose and. coupling 1 and saidlast-mentioned stub. The lower passage 0 extends to the rear from theengaging face of the coupler in the opposite direction to theupperu'iost passage, and it also coninnmicatcs with the bore of a stub0, project iug obliquely to the rear from the vertical side of thecoupler in a plane below stub m. At the point where this stub 0 leavesthe head it is provided with an integral transverse casing o for atwo-way valve, the. transverse spindle 0 of which extends through thehead and has its extended ends provided with band-wuecls for itsmanipulation. The casing for the spindle ol' the twowu r valve used inconnection with the lower passage is provided witl a stub 0, )rojectingdowmvardljv' therefrom, to which the flexible emergency hose isattached. The emergency coupling for both the middle and lower passagepreferably extends downward un' coupler of the upper passage is heldagainst 5 the upper side of the head by suitable clips r1. The object ofso constructing the passages is to dispose of the two-way valves forestablishing communication between the emergency couplers and theline-pipes of the sj.'s- 1o terns with which the oblique rearwardlyextending stubs connect, so that they will notinterfere with each otherand can be easily r-n'anipulated by the operator without difficulty. I rThe passages in n constitute the means for establishing, through thehead 'of the coupler, communication between the line-pipe of the systemof one car and the line-pipes of the systein of another car, and whenthe 0- couplers forany reasonbecome impaired or i inoperative or when acar with another style of coupler is enga ed comiminicatien can then beestablished between the line-pipes of the systems of the two engagingcars through 2 the emergency couplers simply. by turning the two-wayvalves in such position as to .close said passages and open the bores ofthe emergency hose and the oblique rearwardlyextending stubs. j

The mouths of the passages m 11, and 0 are arched and elongatedtransversely in a curve corresponding in curvature to the are of asuitable circle. The object in thus arching the mouths of these passagesis to permit of 3 5 the insertion thereon of suitable gaskets g, whichare seated in rabbeted edges in said mouths and by being arched toconform and correspond to the shape of said months will not collapse, asotherwise they might be a e liable to do. q j

' In Figs. 8, 9, and of the drawings 1 show a modified form of myinvention, which consists in making the body of the coupler, extendingto the rear of the head 2, of two parallel longitudinal members 3 3, thewebs of which are vertical and extend back from head 2, so that thelength of the entire c'oup ler (head and body) exceeds that shown in thefirst seven figures of the drawings 5 slightly. These members 3 3 extendback through a drop-frame 4, which depends from a cross-frame f carrierB, located between the front end of the carrier and the hanger Bthereof, and the rear ends of said members .-'are connected by acircular plate 6 of greater diameter than the opening',7 in saiddropframe 4, and its marginal portions serve the same purpose as theflanges g of the coupler G. The parallel members 3 3 of the coupler areseparated a slight distance, andthc opening 7 has avertical post 8connecting its upper and lowermargins mediate its vertical side margins,which passes up between members 3 3 and assists in pivoting the coupler.05'

Therear face of plate 6 is constructed similar totherear end of couplerG, and it is engaged by and'connected to plunger E in the same mannerthereasj What I claim as new is- 1. An automatic coupler for air-brakescomprising a longitudinallyanovable couplcr head having a limitedswiveled movement oblique to the line of draft, anda'longitudinally-reciprocal plunger normally pressing forward againstthe rear end of the said coupler-head.

2. An automatic coupler for air-brakes comprising alongitudinally-yielding coup lcr-head having a limited movement obliqueto the line of draft, a hanging supportingframe for said coupler movablelongitudinally independently of the car-coupler in which the forwardmovement of said coupler-head is limited, and longitudinally-re ciprocalplunger normally engaging and pressing forward against the rear endof'said coupler-head.

1 3. n11 automatic.coupler for aii brakes cmnprising alongitudinally-yielding coupler-hcad having a limited movement obliqueto the line of draft, a hanging supportingframe for said coupler inwhich the forward movement of said coupler-head is limited, and alongitudinally-rcciprocal plunger normally engaging and pressing forwardagainst the rear end of said coupler-head at a point back of saidsupportingframe. i

4'. An automatic coupler for air-brakes comprising alongitudinally-yielding couplcr-head which is capable of a limitedmovement oblique to the line of draft and having a transverse flange onits rear end, a hanging supporting-frame having an opening thereinthrough which said head is inserted until the flanged end thereofengages said supportingframc, and a longitudinally-reciprocal plungernormally pressing forward. against the rear endv of said coupler-head.

5. An automatic coupler for air-brakes comprising alongitudinally-movable couplcr head having a limited swiveled movementoblique to the line of draft, and a longitudinally-rcciprocal plungerhaving its forward end removably connected to'and normally; pressingforward against'the rear end of the said coupler-head 6. An automaticcoupler for air-brakes comprising a' longitudinally-yieldingcoupler-head having a limited movement oblique to the line of draft, ahanging supportingirame for said coupler in which the forward movementof said couplcr-head is limited,

' and a longitudinally-reciprocal plunger having its forward endremovably' connected to and norm ally engaging and pressing forwardagainst the rear end of said coupler-head.

7. An automatic coupler for air-brakes comprising alongitudinally-yiclding coupler- .head having a limitedmovement obliqueto the line of draft, a hanging. supportingd'rame for said coupler inwhich the forward movement of said coupler-head is limiti-xil, and alongitudinally reciprocal plunger having its forward end removahl-yconnected to and. normally engaging and prcssii'ig forwa d. against therear end of i aid coupler-head at a point hack of said.supporting-frame.

S. An. automatic coupler for air-hrakes coi'nprising alongitu(finally-yielding coup lcr-head which is capable of a limitedmove ment oblique to the line of draft and having a transverse flange onits rear end, a hanging supporting.rame haying an opening thereinthrough which said head is inserted until the' flanged end thereofengages said support i1ig--fraine, and a longitudinally-reciprocalplunger having its forward end removahly connected to and normallypressing forward against the rear end-of said coupler-head.

9. An automatic con )ler for air-brakes comprising a longitudinaly-yiclding couplerhead having a limited swivcled movement oblique toits line of draft, a longitudinallyreci rocal plunger engaging the rearend of sai coupler head and a spring normally pressing said plungerforward. against said coupler. c p

10. An automatic coupler for air-l ral es comprisinglongitu(finally-yielding couplerhead having a limited movement ohliqueto the line of draft, a hanging supporting frame for said couplermovable longitudinally independently of the car-coupler in which theforward movement of said couplerhead is limited, :1longitudinally-reciprocal plunger normally engaging and pressing forwardagainst the rear end of said couplerhcad, and a spring normallythrusting said plunger forward.

11. An automatic coupler for air-brakes comprising alongitudinallyq'ielding coupler,- head having a limited movement obliqueto I the line of draft a han in sup. citin -frame v i 1 r for saidcoupler in which the forward movement of said coiu'ilerdiead is limited,at longitudinally-reciprocal plunger normally engaging and pressingforward against the rear endof said coupler-head at a point hack of saidsupporting-frame, and a spring nor mally thrusting said plunger forward.

12. An. automatic coupler for air-flushes comprising alongitudmolly-yielding (:ou pierhead which is capable of a limitedmovement oblique to the line of draft and haying a transverse flange onits rear end, a hanging supportingdramc having an opening thereinthrough which said head is inserted until the flanged end thereofengages said supportingframe, a longitudinally-rcciprocalplungernormally pressing forward against the rear end of sa dcmipler-head and a spring non mally thrusting said plunger forward.

13. An automatic coupler for uir-bral es comprising alongitudinally-movahlc coupler-head having a limited swiveled movesewerment oblique to the line of draft, a longitw: dinally-reciprocal plungerhaving its forward end removably connected to and normally pressingforward against the rear end of the v the rear end ofsaidcoupler-head'and aspring normally thrusting said plunger forward.

15. An automatic coupler for air-brakes comprising alongitudinally-movable coupler-hcad having a limited movement oblique tothe line of draft, a longitudinally-reciprocal plunger normally pressingforward against the rear end of the said coupler-head and alongitudinally-reciprocal carrier tied to the car-coupler by which saidcoupler-body and plunger are sustained.

16. An automatic coupler for air-brakes comprising alongitudinally-yielding couplerhcad having a limited movement oblique tothe line of draft, a hanging supporting-frame for said coupler in whichthe forward move ment of said coupler-head is limited, 8.longit-udinally-reciprocal plunger normally engaging and pressingforward against the rear end of said coupler-head and a longitudinally1'eciprocal carrier removably tied to the car-coupler of the carwhich sustains sdid coupler-body, hanging supportingframe and plunger.17. An automatic coupler for air-brakes romprising alongitudinally-movable coupler-head having a limited movement oblique tothe line of draft, a longitudinally-reciprocal plunger having itsforward end removahly connected to and normally pressing forward againstthe rear end of the said couplerhcad, and alongitudinally reci rocalcarrier suitably tied. to the car-coupler y which said coupler-body andplunger are sustained. 18. An automatic coupler for air-brakescomprising a longitudinally-yielding couplerhead having a limitedmovement 'obli no to the line of draft, a hanging supportingame for saidcoupler in which the forward movemcnt of said coupler-head isli1nited,'a longitudinally-rccipTocal plunger normally engagwardly fromthe engaging face thereof and having'a laterally-elongated arched mouth.

20. An automatic coupler for air-brakes comprising a coupler-head havinga longitudinally-disposed passage extending rear.- wardly from theengaging face thereof and having a laterally-elongated arched mouth anda gasket inserted in and conforming to the shape of said mouth.

21. An automatic coupler for" airdnakes com rising a coupler-head havinga loi=. itudina ly-dispose'tl passage extending rearwardly from theengaging face thereof and having'a laterally-elongated curved mouth boththe upper and lower edges of which conform to the arc of a circle.

22. An automatic coupler for air-brakes comprising a coupler-headhavinga longitudinally-disposed passage extending rearwardly from the en agingface thereof and having a laterally-elongated curved mouth both theupper and lower edges of which con.- form to the arc of a circle and agasket seated in and conforming in shape to the edges of said mouth.

23. An automatic coupler for air-brakes com rising a coupler-head havinga longitudina ly-disposed passage extending rear- Wardly from the enaging face thereof and having a laterally-e ongated curved mouthboth theupper and lower rabbetcd edges of which conform to the are of a circleand a gasket seated in and conforming in shape to the rabbeted edges ofsaid mouth.

24. An qtomatic coupler .for air-brakes com rising a couplerhead havinga longitudina ly-disposed passage extending rear- Wardly and obliquelyfrom the engaging face thereof, a stub projecting from the longitudinalside of said coupler with the bore of which said passage connects, andthe bore of an emergency-passage communicating with said stub at anangle to the axis of said passage and a valve at the point ofintersection of said emergency-passage.

25. An automatic coupler for air-brakes comprising coupler-head having alongitudinally-disposed passage extending roarwardiy and obliquely fromthe engaging face to the longitudinal side of the same, anemergency-passage tapping said fu'st-'nientionc l passage at a suitableangle, and a suitable two-way valve at the point of intersection of saidpassages.

26. An automatic coupler for air-brakes comprising a coupler-head havinga longitudinally-disposed passage extending rear wardly and obliquelyfrom the engaging face to the longitudinal side of the same, anemergency-passage tapping said first-mentioned passage at a suitableangle, and a suitable two-Way valve at the point of intersection of saidpassages whose axis is transverse to said coupler-head.

27. An automatic cou ler for air-brakes 1 comprising a coupler-hearhaving a longitudinally-disposed passage extending rearwardly andobliquely froin'the engaging face to the longitudinal side of the same,an emergency-passage tapping said first-mentioned passage at a suitableangle, a suitable twoway valve at the point of intersection of saidpassages whose axis is transverse to said couplerdiead and a spindletherefor extending transversely through said body and having means onits extremity for turning it.

28. An automaticcoupler for air-brakes comprising a coupler-head haxdnga plurality of longitudiually-disposed passages extending rearwardlyfrom the engaging face thereof and having laterally-elongated archedmouths.

29. an automatic coupler for.air-brakes comprising a coupler-head havinga plurality of longiiudinallyalisposed passages extending rcarwardlyfrom the engaging face thereof and. having laterally-elongated archedmouths and a gasket inserted in and conforming to the shape of eachmouth.

30. An automatic coupler for air-brakes comprising a coupler-head havinga plurality of longiludinally-disposed passages extending rcarwardlyfrom the engaging face thereof and having lliterally-elongated curvedmouths both the upper and lower edges of which conform to the arc of acircle.

31. An automatic coupler for air-brakes comprising a coupler-head havinga plurality of longitudinallydisposed passages, the mouths of which inthe engaging face of the coupler are arranged one above the other, andare elongated laterally and conform in curvature to the are of a circle.a

32. An automatic coupler for car-brakes comprising a coupler-head havinga plurality of lougiluifinally-disposed passages arranged one above theother and extending rearwardly and obliquely from the engaging face ofthe coupler, some of which passage. are deflected to one side and some.to theother.

:53. An automatic coupler for car-brakes comprising a coupler-headhavii'ig'a plurality of longil u linallyulisposed )assages arranged oneabove. the other and extending rearl wardly and obliquely from theengaging face l of the coupler, some of which passages are dollected toone side and some to the other, loniergehcy-passages extending at anangle 1 into said iirst-mentionrul passages, and transi versevalvesintersecting the point of intersection of said passages.

l l l l h l l 254. An automatic cou )ler for car-brakes comprising acorr dor-head. having a plurality of longituifinally-disposed passagesarranged one above the other and extending rearwardly and obliquely fromthe engaging face of the coupler, some of which passages are l deflectedto one side and some to the other,

emergency-passages extending at an angle into said first-mentionedpassages and trans verse valves intersecting the points of intersectionof said passages and spindles extending transversely through saidcoupler-head beyond the sides thereof and means for turning saidspindles.

35. An automatic coupler for car-brakes comprising a coupler-head havinga plurality of longitudinally-disposed passages of unequal lengtharranged one above the other and extending rear Wardly and obliquelyfrom the engaging face of the coupler, some of which passages aredeflected to one side and some to the other.

36. An automatic coupler for car-bral es comprising a coupler-headhaving a plurality of longitudinally-disposed passages of unequal lengtharranged one above the other and extending reerw: rdly andohliquelylroni the engaging face of the coupler, some of which passagesare deflected to one side and. some to the other, emergehcppassagesextending at an angle into said first-mentioned passages and transversevalves intersecting the point of intersection of said passa es.

37. An automatic coupler'for car-hrakes and extending rearwardly andobliquely from the engaging face of the coupler, some of which passagesare deflected to one side and some to the other, emergeney-passagesextending at an angle into said first-mentioned passages and transversevalves intersectin the points of intersection of said passages anspindles extending transversely through said coupler-head and beyond thesides thereof and means for turning said spindles e In testimony whereofI have hereunto set my hand and seal this 8th day of June, A. D.= 1906.

FRANK H. RUTHERFORD. [1,. 5.] Witnesses:

FRANK D. THouAsoN, E. K. LUNDY.

